Makati Introduction
Makati is the Wall Street of the Philippines and Metro Manila's financial heart. Here you will find the headquarters of many local and multinational corporations. Makati also hosts most of the embassies and consulates to the Philippines. As a central business district, Makati teems with upscale shopping, dining and entertainment options. Many of these establishments cater to the city's thriving expat community. Makati is additionally a cultural hub, home to museums and landmarks dating back to the Spanish colonial era.
Hotels in Makati
You have a variety of options in front of you when it comes to hotels in Makati. The closer you are to the city's commercial district, the more upscale the accommodations are. Budget-friendly hotels in Makati are located in the commercial district's outskirts. Cheap Makati hotels and hostels are even farther away. A lot of these hotels offer services tailor-made for business travelers. However, many of them are flexible enough to provide for the needs of guests traveling with family. Makati isn't exactly a city for romance, but you'll easily find hotels that package romance in a highly urban setting.
Where to stay
Ayala Center is the heart of Makati. This is where you'll find many of the city's ritziest dining, shopping and entertainment options. If you're looking for luxury hotels in Makati, you're sure to find them in and around Ayala Center. Rockwell Center and Fort Bonifacio Global City are neighborhoods that are also worth checking out. Accommodations here are slightly less expensive and more family-friendly. There are plenty of excellent dining and shopping options in these neighborhoods, too. If you're looking for more budget-friendly accommodations, you will find a range of choices in the Guadalupe and Poblacion areas just outside Ayala Center.
Things to see
Glorietta Mall in Ayala Center is one of Metro Manila's premier shopping destinations. This 5-building complex houses at least 500 shops, restaurants, and cafes, not to mention cinemas, event halls, and galleries. If malling at Glorietta isn't quite enough to satisfy you, you can head on to posh Power Plant Mall in Rockwell Center. There are many interesting things in Makati for history buffs, too. The old churches of Makati provide a striking contrast against the city's modern skyscrapers. Guadalupe Church, for instance, is a baroque church dating from 1601. The current church is a restoration of the one destroyed during World War II. The Saints Peter and Paul Church, on the other hand, was built in 1620. Although it has been rebuilt and renovated over the years, this church in Poblacion retains its original baroque rococo design. The
Ayala Museum has permanent displays and dioramas pertaining to the prehistoric and modern history of the Philippines.
How to get to Makati
Makati's central location makes it accessible from all points of Metro Manila. Perhaps the easiest way to get to Makati is the MRT, the railway that runs the length of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). Four MRT stations serve Makati, namely Guadalupe, Buendia, Ayala, and Magallanes. Buses plying EDSA and South Luzon Expressway pass through Makati as well. You can also get to Makati via LRT-1. Just get off at LRT-1's
Gil Puyat Avenue Station. If you're coming from Manila, Pasay City, Pateros, or Taguig, you can ride a jeepney bound for Guadalupe or Ayala Avenue.
